A. James Clark School of Engineering

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Dispersion

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    Optimization of Carbon Monoxide Detectors in a Residential Layout and Analysis of Dispersion Characteristics
    (2012) Engel, Derek; Trouvé, Arnaud; Fire Protection Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Current building and life safety standards do not specify the optimal placement of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in residential structures. Currently, the standards advise to follow manufacturer's instructions, place one centrally on each floor and in each HVAC zone. With the use of computation fluid dynamics (CFD) software FLACS, simulations were run to observe and track CO concentrations, generated from a fire source, throughout a demonstrative box as well as a residential structure under different source and ambient conditions. A MATLAB script was developed to represent CO detector functionality. From this it was possible to evaluate detector placement throughout a structure. The time to detection criterion was analyzed as well as order of alarm in relation to other placements. Final recommendations are presented based upon the dispersion patterns observed.
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    Evaluation of Fire Dynamics Simulator for Liquefied Natural Gas Vapor Dispersion Hazards
    (2011) Kohout, Andrew Joseph; Trouve, Arnaud; Fire Protection Engineering; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Pipeline and Hazardous Material Administration (PHMSA) require vapor dispersion modeling as part of a siting analysis for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Guidance issued by PHMSA, in consultation with FERC, establishes a protocol for the scientific assessment, verification, and validation of vapor dispersion models. This thesis provides an evaluation of the Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS), Version 5.5.1, for LNG vapor dispersion hazards. The scientific assessment demonstrates that FDS is capable of modeling LNG vapor dispersion hazards, but raises potential limitations associated with the specification of the source term, initial conditions, and boundary conditions; the verification calls for third party confirmation of modeling results; and the validation recommends a safety factor of up to 2 for modeling LNG vapor concentrations in unobstructed flow fields and a safety factor of up to 3 for modeling LNG vapor concentrations for obstructed flow fields.